Elizabeth Simmons is always thinking of ways to make improvements.

And as the new director for the Lyman Briggs School, MSU's college dedicated to natural sciences, Simmons is already contributing some of her ideas on how to better serve the school's diverse group of students.

"There is such a wide range of fields within the school, and because of that, I want to ensure the Lyman Briggs curriculum is appropriate and balanced between the different areas of study," Simmons said.

Simmons will take over for Steve Spees, who was the acting director until this month. Spees filled in for Diane Ebert-May, a professor in the Department of Plant Biology who stepped down as director last year. Spees will now work alongside Simmons as associate director. Directors serve five-year terms.

Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Simmons said her family moved around a lot when she was younger, including to Ohio and New Jersey before moving to Boston.

"I was a Buckeyes fan when I was a child, but I know when I'm here it's, 'Go State' all the way," said Simmons, 39.

Simmons received the official offer for her position in June, and continued to work at Boston University for the remainder of the summer. Simmons said she arrived in Michigan on Aug. 1 and began working Aug. 16.

Simmons said she will meet with a small group of faculty and staff on financial issues facing the school, such as raising money for new courses and facilities in order to benefit students.

"My job is more akin to that of a chair than a dean," Simmons said. "I'm also supposed to do my own research, and somehow fit the teaching in there as well."

But despite her added responsibilities, Simmons said she is excited about her new role.

"Normally I spend half my time on teaching, but now I'll be spending half my time on administrative issues," Simmons said.

Simmons received her doctorate in theoretical physics from Harvard in 1990 and was a postdoctoral fellow for three years and a professor for 10 years. She taught at Boston University as an assistant professor and an associate professor until this year.

Officials from Lyman Briggs contacted Simmons last November to ask if she was interested in the director position.

"When I heard about the caliber of Lyman Briggs students and their attachment to the school, I was intrigued," Simmons said. "It sounded like an institution I wanted to be a part of."

Wu-Ki Tung, a MSU professor of physics who began working with Simmons this month at the Biomedical and Physical Sciences' Theoretical High Energy Physics group, said he has known of Simmons for many years through her reputation.

"It's not an accident that when the search committee looked over their candidates for the position, she emerged as their pick for the position," Tung said.

Cynthia Brossman, assistant director of Boston University's Learning Resource Network, said MSU will benefit from Simmons' leadership and character. Simmons was director of the BU network.

"She's very personable and likable, which is a combination that's really hard to beat," Brossman said.

Simmons lives in Okemos with her husband, MSU physics professor R. Sekhar Chivukula, who also taught at Boston University. She said she and her husband are still getting adjusted to their new surroundings.

"We're still getting lost in Meijer," Simmons said.